Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1887-1890, 1887-09-07
FALLS TRIBUNE.
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2. 1887.
WALTER M. ODwyER, EDITOR.
DIVISION NOTES.

DIVISION NOTES.
There were 1888 votes east in Cho-
teau county at the late election, and
as indicating that Cascade county
will have to begin with sufficient pop
ulation it is only necessary to cite the
fact that 1900 citizens and voters
within the boundaries of the propos-
ed county have signed a petition ia
voring its creation. And as convinc-
ing proof Of the Importance of Great
Falls in this section we quote from
the report Of the territorial auditor
the number of votes cast for delegate
to congress in 1886, as follows:
Great Falls, 252; Fort Benton, 275;
Sun River, (Choteau county,, So; Sun
River Crossing, rs. Since then Great
Falls has doubled its population and
is now the most important point in
northern Montana.
Xxx
The urgent appeal of1,2O0 petition
ers, citizens and taxpayers of the
proposed county of Cascade, can not
be sighted by the legislature if it is
shown that injury is done to no other
county or section and that there is
sufficient assessable property in the
new county for it's proper mainte-
nance. These points the TRIBUNE has
already made, but they will bear re-
petition, as they constitute the es-
sence and foundation of the whole ar
gument. Meagher county is asked to
surrender 8 portion of her territory
thatkis ultra monies and an expense
rather than a benefit to her. Against
this there is nc protest from Meagher
county. Lewis and Clarke with it's
great and rapidly increasing wealth
can have no good objections to ced-
ing that portion asked of her in the in
terest of the citizens thereof, whose
best interests demand it. Choteau
county has no better valid grounds of
objection. On the basis Of last
years assessment (which was So, 1884,
6S2} just $550,000 was in the new
county and the remainder, over $3,
100000, in the old. Admitting the
exaggerated claims of stock losses,
the 200 miles of railroad within her
borders more than make up in
wealth this decline, and at the same
time the county is relieved of nearly
one-third of her large Indebtedness.
In the light of these facts, and they
can not be denied, it is clear that
Choteau county would not be injured
in the least by the creation of the new
county, and that the opposition from
Fort Benton is purely personal and
factious. We would ask of the MEM
bers of the legislature, before whom
this question is to come for decision,
that these simple and undeniable
facts should be fully and fairly con-
sidered.
~
Our Sun River friends have been
free in the use of the alleged argu-
ment that the creation Of the new
county would increase taxes, as fine
public buildings you'd be erected
and other heavy expenses incurred in
advance of the wealth to warrant it.
This is completely answered by the
terms Of the bill which requires an as
sessment roll of $,000,0e0 before a
courthouse can be erected and limits
the county indebtedness to three per
centum of the assessment. These are
wise safeguards and show that our
citizens ARE determined that conser-
vatism must rulein the administration
Of the affairs Of the local govern
ment.
~
Having no good arguments to Of
fer against the creation Of the new
county it's opponents attempt to create
prejudice againstit BY the assertion
that it is q scheme in the interest Of
the Great FallsW ater-PoWer& Town
site Company. Ifthis needed any re-
ference in thewayo Of contradiction, il
would be sufficient 70 state that out